Hurricanes confirm loss of Ruben Love as teams are named for round two of Super Rugby Pacific

Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Clark Laidlaw said the Hurricanes were fearing the worst when star playmaker Ruben Love suffered an injury at training last week, but they are hoping he will only miss four-to-six weeks of action.

All Black Ruben Love could miss the Hurricanes’ first six games of the season through injury.

The Hurricanes, having announced last weekend Love hurt his ankle during training, on Wednesday confirmed Love would miss 4-6 weeks.

Love, 24, was expected to feature at both No 10 and fullback this year, and is one of a few big names out to start the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby campaign.

“He stood on a foot and rolled his ankle, totally innocuous,” Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw said of the training incident.

Laidlaw was taking a pragmatic approach to what was obviously a massive loss.

“It could have been a lot worse,” he said.

Footage of Highlanders flyer Caleb Tangitau clocking 43 kilometres per hour has the Aotearoa Rugby Pod crew asking: who is the fastest in Super Rugby?

On a bye last week, the Hurricanes are also without flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi (calf), wing Kini Naholo (knee) and lock Isaia Walker-Leawere (calf) for Friday night’s match against Moana Pasifika in Wellington.

Here are this week’s teams.

Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika

Friday, 7.05pm at Sky Stadium, Wellington

Big-name recruit Warner Dearns is one of three players set to make their Hurricanes debut when they kickoff their 2026 campaign.

Japan co-captain Dearns, who has 32 test caps to his name, stands at 2.03m tall and is set to bolster the franchise’s second row after returning to his city of birth on a one-year sabbatical from Toshiba Brave Lupus.

Loose forward Arese Poliko and Matolu Petaia, a wider training squad player, will earn their first caps for the Hurricanes if they get off the bench.

With Love unavailable, Brett Cameron will start in the No 10 jersey and Callum Harkin gets the nod at fullback.

Meanwhile, Moana Pasifika coch Tana Umaga has named seven debutants.

After the historic win over the Drua in the sweltering Lautoka heat last week, Umaga says it was always been part of the plan to give promising new players their shot early in the season.

The most significant change is in the back row, with captain Miracle Faiilagi, who scored three tries against the Drua, on the bench.

Veteran hooker Samiuela Moli will captain the team while regular skipper Faiilagi remains in the match-day 23 as an 'impact player.'

Hurricanes: Callum Harkin, Josh Moorby, Bailyn Sullivan, Jordie Barrett (capt), Fehi Fineanganofo, Brett Cameron, Ere Enari, Brayden Iose, Peter Lakai, Devan Flanders, Warner Dearns, Hugo Plummer, Siale Lauaki, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tevita Mafileo, Matolu Petaia, Brad Shields, Arese Poliko, Cam Roigard, Billy Proctor.

Moana Pasifika: Simon Peter Toleafoa, Israel Leota, Glen Vaihu, Faletoi Peni, Tuna Tuitama, Patrick Pellegrini, Siaosi Nginingini , Dominic Ropeti, Konrad Toleafoa, Semisi Paea, Alefosio Aho, Veikoso Poloniati, Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, Samiuela Moli (captain), Abraham Pole. Reserves: Mamoru Harada, Tito Tuipulotu, Lolani Faleiva, Allan Craig, Miracle Faiilagi, Melani Matavao, William Havili, Tevita Ofa.

Highlanders v Chiefs

Saturday, 7.05pm at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has kept changes to a minimum as they eye a second big scalp to start the season.

He’s essentially kept the same starting XV that helped beat the Crusaders last week, with All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot coming into the run-on side off the bench.

De Groot had been named to start last week, before Joseph saw the Crusaders’ All Black laden bench and moved him and Angus Ta’avao to the pine to shore up their front-row at the back end of the game.

Ta’avao will miss the game after announcing the death of his son, Leo.

Highlanders: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Caleb Tangitau, Jonah Lowe, Timoci Tavatavanawai (capt), Jona Nareki, Cam Millar, Folau Fakatava, Lucas Casey, Sean Withy, Te Kamaka Howden, Mitch Dunshea, Oliver Haig, Rohan Wingham, Jack Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Henry Bell, Josh Bartlett, Sosefo Kautai, Will Stodart, Veveni Lasaqa, Adam Lennox, Reesjan Pasitoa, Tanielu Tele’a.

There’s still no Damian McKenzie (birth of first child), but the Chiefs have welcomed back some heavy hitters for their trip south.

All Blacks wingers Leroy Carter and Emoni Narawa are back, as is loose forward Simon Parker.

Carter will start under the roof, while Narawa and Parker will come off the bench.

Parker’s return coincides with Samipeni Finau, who set up half back Cortez Ratima’s match-winner against the Blues last week, being out with concussion.

Speaking of All Black Ratima, he will miss the fixture due to the impending birth of his second child.

Chiefs: Etene Nanai-Seturo, Kyren Taumoefolau, Daniel Rona, Quinn Tupaea, Leroy Carter, Josh Jacomb, Xavier Roe, Luke Jacobson (capt), Jahrome Brown, Kaylum Boshier, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, George Dyer, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Jared Proffit. Reserves: Tyrone Thompson, Benet Kumeroa, Reuben O’Neill, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Te Toiria Tahuriorangi, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Emoni Narawa.

Force v Blues

Saturday, 9.35pm at HIF Health Insurance Oval, Perth

The Blues have tweaked their pack for the looming trip to Perth.

Sam Darry’s unavailability through concussion means Laghlan McWhannell will start alongside Josh Beehtre.

Marcel Renata will star at prop, sliding Ofa Tu’ungafasi to the bench, while Anton Segner will start at blindside flanker for Torian Barnes.

After missing round one, hooker Kurt Eklund returns to the 23 and will come off the bench when starter Bradley Slater is spelled.

Blues: Zarn Sullivan, Cole Forbes, AJ Lam, Pita Ahki, Caleb Clarke, Stephen Perofeta, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Josh Beehre, Laghlan McWhannell, Marcel Renata, Bradley Slater, Joshua Fusitu’a. Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Mason Tupaea, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Che Chark, Torian Barnes, Sam Nock, Xavi Taele, Codemeru Vai.

Crusaders v Brumbies

Sunday, 3.35pm at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch

Leicester Fainga’anuku has been benched after a error-riddled return to Super Rugby with the Crusaders.

Fainga’anuku, having started on the wing last week, was one of a bunch of players to make key handling errors in their loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Head coach Rob Penney said the plan this week was to gain continuity in the midfield with starters David Havili and Braydon Ennor, before unleashing Fainga’anuku off the bench.

Penney has also prompted All Black gun Will Jordan to the starting side, as well as All Blacks tighthead prop Fletcher Newell.

Loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams, unavailable last week due to personal reasons, is on the bench alongside fellow All Black Codie Taylor.

Halfback Kyle Preston (concussion) has been replaced on the bench by Louie Chapman.

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Chay Fihaki, Braydon Ennor, David Havili (capt), Sevu Reece, Rivez Reihana, Noah Hotham, Christian Lio-Willie, Ethan Blackadder, Dom Gardiner, Jamie Hannah, Antonio Shalfoon, Fletcher Newell, George Bell, Finlay Brewis. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams, Seb Calder, Tahlor Cahill, Corey Kellow, Louie Chapman, Taha Kemara, Leicester Fainga’anuku.